Iran and Saudi Arabia have strongly denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suggestion to relocate Palestinians to Saudi territory, calling it a dangerous escalation that threatens regional stability. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the proposal as a blatant act of aggression, exposing Israel’s colonial ambitions and systematic attempts to erase Palestinian identity through forced displacement and illegal settlements. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud also rejected the idea, reaffirming Riyadh’s firm opposition to any forced expulsion of Palestinians and its commitment to their right to self-determination.

Netanyahu’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump reiterated his administration’s push to “take control” of Gaza under the pretext of reconstruction while denying Palestinians their right to return. His plan, widely condemned as ethnic cleansing, aims to forcibly transfer Gaza’s population to other countries. In response, Araghchi called on the international community to resist efforts to normalise Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Saudi Arabia, along with other Arab states, dismissed the relocation scheme, insisting that Palestine’s future must be determined by its own people.

Palestinian resistance groups have fiercely opposed the proposal, calling it a delusional colonialist fantasy. The Popular Resistance Committee condemned Trump’s comparison of Gaza to real estate, asserting that Palestinian land is not for sale. Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua also rejected the plan, declaring that Gaza is an inseparable part of Palestine. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan issued a joint statement rejecting any forced displacement, insisting that Gaza’s reconstruction must be led by its own people with international support—not through forced resettlement.